Description

The Chemistry major within the Bachelor of Science studies the chemical and physical properties of substances in order to determine their composition, to develop new substances and products and to increase scientific knowledge. Specialising in Chemistry provides diverse opportunities to find employment in both government organisations and private industry in areas such as product control and development, research, scientific product sales and support, technology management and health. Chemists are also active in information industries and patent services and many chemists make the career transition into management as well as in finance and investments.

There is also a strong demand for chemistry-trained secondary school teachers, given the central place of chemistry in school science curricula. Post graduate research graduates have good prospects both in Australia and overseas. Employment opportunities also exist outside the scientific field in government and private sectors where analytical, problem solving, mathematical and report writing skills are required.

Honours:Some jobs require additional qualifications at Honours level. Honours is a one year stand-alone program, completed after successfully fulfilling the requirements of the undergraduate degree. View Bachelor of Science (Honours).

Postgraduate Study

Some occupations require a higher level of completed study than an undergraduate degree, and for this reason it is worthwhile considering the range of post-graduate study options available. Post-graduate study may also be useful for specialising in a particular area, or to stimulate career change. Some of the post-graduate study options following the Bachelor of Science include:

Sample Jobs

The following list provides some example job titles that may be available to graduates of a Bachelor of Science with a major in Chemistry. Some of these jobs will depend on the amount and level of study undertaken, level of experience, the combination of other majors and electives studied, while some may require further study.

Not everyone uses their degree in the same way and the transferable skills gained through university study may allow graduates to pursue a range of careers that might not be directly linked to their study. Below is a sample list of job titles that might be suitable for someone with the skills gained from a Chemistry major.

Most employers seek to recruit people who have relevant work experience and an appreciation for their industry. Here is a check list of ideas about gaining experience and industry knowledge.

Check the type of experience most employers in your field of interest expect. Don’t overlook the part time work you may be currently doing. Most employers understand that the skills are transferrable even if the work is not in their industry.

Check your academic program for any courses that involve a placement or the opportunity to undertake an industry based project.

Sample Employers

Graduates with a major in Chemistry may find employment opportunities in small, medium or large organisations of varying industries. Below are some examples of organisations that may recruit graduates with a Chemistry major.

Check employers' websites for sections titled Employment, Careers, Graduate Programs, or for similar sections. Some employers may also offer vacation work opportunities.

Some large organisations have specific graduate recruitment programs designed to employ the pick of graduates each year. You must be in your final year of study or recently completed to apply for these programs. The timing of these recruitment drives varies and may occur at any point in the academic year, in some cases starting as early as the first few weeks of the first semester or trimester.

Find out if employers in your area/s of interest have graduate programs, when they typically recruit and what recruitment methods they use. Check with the Careers Service .

Job Prospects and Salary

For up-to-date information please see Job Outlook Australia. This site provides basic Australian labour market information including job prospects, skills requirements and salaries. You might try some of the classifications below as a guide on this site.

Societies and Associations

Associations and societies often provide relevant and up to date information about a variety of issues relating to specific industry sectors. These can be a good starting point to learn more about occupations through profiles, industry news, links to academic journals and information on research developments. Many also offer student membership, conference and professional development activities, newsletters and the opportunity to participate in projects.

Don’t overlook student societies and associations. As well as student chapters of professional associations, some faculties or schools have discipline based student associations. Check your school or faculty web site; perhaps you might start one if one doesn’t exist.

Some academic disciplines run Seminar Programs that involve regular seminars presented by University of Newcastle academics, visiting academics and postgraduate students. Check your schools website for the timetable.

Job Search Sites

Searching job sites is a good way to gain an understanding of: industries recruiting professionals in this field; types of roles and the requirements or expectations of employers for these roles. There are many online job search sites, here are a few to start with:

Australian and International

CareerHub: the University of Newcastle Careers Service careers and job search site for enrolled students and graduates.

International

Command Group: a recruitment company with vacancies in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore

Graduate Attributes and Employability

Graduate attributes for the Bachelor of Science are the skills, abilities and knowledge that are highly sought after by a broader range of employers. Below is the complete list of attributes that graduates will have demonstrated upon the completion of the degree.

Graduate Attributes

On completion of the Bachelor of Science degree, a graduate will be able to demonstrate:

In-depth knowledge and skills in a field of science with well-founded knowledge and skills in at least one field of science and a basic knowledge of at least one other field of science.